The goal of the Ecosystem Research & Monitoring Department is to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration projects in the Columbia River estuary.  CREST has worked with partners like Pacific Northwest National Labs, University of Washington, National Marine Fisheries Service and others to develop standardized monitoring protocols for collection of physical, chemical and biological monitoring data at restoration project sites. CREST maintains scientific equipment, boats and a year-round field crew to collect this data, and is available for contract work with outside researchers. 

The field crew is especially skilled in measuring juvenile salmonid use of restored wetlands and employs a variety of methods including trap nets, beach seines, smolt traps, pit tags and radio telemetry, invertebrate fall-out traps and benthic cores (prey availability), gastric lavage (prey utilization) and otolith/genetic analyses (stock identification).  The data collected helps to inform restoration project managers and funders in the development of adaptive management strategies and restoration priorities.

In the summer of 2008 CREST received expert training and funding to begin offering fisheries analytic laboratory services for juvenile salmon biological samples.  This service is offered in partnership with the Astoria High School Fisheries Technician Program. 

The Ecosystem Research & Monitoring Department also coordinates or contributes to several on-going invasive species inventorying and eradication efforts.  Many of these projects have utilized the crew services of the Clatsop County Juvenile Corrections Department, Americorp, MTC Works and others.

For more information on field or laboratory services, contact April Cameron, Biologist/Ecologist